Traditional Christmas Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
| 250 g / 8 oz each raisins, currants and sultanas | ||
| 60 g / 2 oz dates or dried figs | ||
| 3 tablespoons brandy or dark rum | ||
| 250 g / 8 oz butter, softened | ||
| Grated rind of 1 orange and 1 lemon | ||
| Brown sugar | 1 Cup (16 tbs), lightly packed | |
| Eggs | 4 Small, beaten | |
| Plain flour | 1 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Mixed spice | 1 Teaspoon | |
| Ground ginger | 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| Soda bicarbonate | 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| Salt | 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| 60 g / 2 oz blanched almonds, roughly chopped | ||
| Breadcrumbs | 2 Cup (16 tbs) | |
Directions
1. Place fruits in a large bowl, snipping dates or figs into small pieces (a). Drizzle with brandy or rum, cover and soak overnight.
2. Cream butter, grated citrus rind and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add beaten eggs, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift together flour, spice, ginger, bicarbonate and salt, add chopped almonds. Stir into creamed mixture alternately with soaked fruit. Stir in breadcrumbs and mix well.
4. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 7-8 cup pudding basin, smooth the top (b). Cover with a snap-on lid or a double thickness of greaseproof paper tied on with string.
5. Place basin on an old saucer, rounded-side up, in large saucepan (c). Pour boiling water to come halfway up the sides of basin and place over heat. When water returns to the boil, cover saucepan with a lid. Steam pudding for 3 hours, adding boiling water as necessary.
6. Remove basin from water and allow pudding to cool. Cover basin with foil and store in the refrigerator until required. Before serving, steam pudding for a further hour. Turn out onto a heated plate.
2. Cream butter, grated citrus rind and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add beaten eggs, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift together flour, spice, ginger, bicarbonate and salt, add chopped almonds. Stir into creamed mixture alternately with soaked fruit. Stir in breadcrumbs and mix well.
4. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 7-8 cup pudding basin, smooth the top (b). Cover with a snap-on lid or a double thickness of greaseproof paper tied on with string.
5. Place basin on an old saucer, rounded-side up, in large saucepan (c). Pour boiling water to come halfway up the sides of basin and place over heat. When water returns to the boil, cover saucepan with a lid. Steam pudding for 3 hours, adding boiling water as necessary.
6. Remove basin from water and allow pudding to cool. Cover basin with foil and store in the refrigerator until required. Before serving, steam pudding for a further hour. Turn out onto a heated plate.
Chef
